National Republican., 1887-07-26
THE PENSION BUILDING =.
How the Huge Pile of Brick Looks tc
n Visitor.


EprroR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: My re-
cent visit to this great government ediflce
was decided pleasure, largely composed
Of novelty, as all the best Of enjoyments
are.
For there Is nothing like the pension bu
reau IN Washington, nor, probably, elst-
where. II sprang from the luxurlant orr
entail brain Of Gen. Montgomery G. Meigs.
He has furnished surprise to the visitor
who may enter.
After a view Of the exterior, imple aud
unpretentious, conveying somewhat the i'm
preston that mighty barn is before him,
he would scarf ely be inclined to do so.
But as there are mon, and women, too,
whose personal appearance is little attrac-
tive, yet an acquaintance with whom, nd
mittance, as 1t were, TO their inner life, the
Introduction TO their souls, changes disin-
cllnation to delight, so with entrance here.
A short passage way from each OF the four
doors-one In the center u either side OF
the parallelogram plan-conducts to O
grand central hall, open to the arched and
sky-lghted roof, the floor tiled, and a
fountain in the midst thereof.
This ample and beautiful court is divided
into three equal parts by two rows of colos-
sal pillars, richly capitalized, ornate arches
connecting them, and thence The wall
ascending, with inches for statuary, till II
| meets the roof Many windows, varying in
size but agreeing In rounded tops, literally
illumine and ventilate the hall, aiding, also,
the numerous rooms which, themselves i'm
mediatcly lighted, are entered from 1t.
The Offices above the ground floor are
reached by easily. mounted staircases. each
step being only about three inches in height,
| constructed Of brick, and then through
| three lines Of galleries, the lower two sup
| ported on pillars, with connecting arches
the second adorned with vases on low
| pedestals at regular intervals along Its wall
| and the third, more retired, OF open, orna
mented ironwork gilded. This latter might
be called the golden gallery, even for an
| other reason than the one mentioned, as II
affords access to the treasury Of all the
| records Of the bureau.
The various apartments are provided with
| entrance openings, large, lofty, aud round
| topped, without doors, except In two OF
three cases, usually couple Of such open
| ings to each room.
| than repositories of papers, the apartments
Of the golden gallery were ouly lighted and
| ventilated from the roof. Windows In the
| outer walls are impossibl owing to tht
form Of construction. Business, with un
anticipated yet imperative demand, ha,
made necessary the location Of clerks II
these inhospitable rooms. The condition
of the gentlemen during sultry day.
when the thermometer near them stands Al
| 1929 is not enviable, nor would 1t be sur
| prising II, some afternoon at 4 o'clock, they
should incontinently rush to the blue Po
tomne, dive to the bottom to get cool, aud
stay there to keep SO.
Nearly all the windows through the great
extent Of architecture were wide expanded
to admit the summer breeze, with which
came also the summer birds flying through
the hall, and singing or resting awhile oil
the foliated capitals. The minstrels OF the
air were not alarmed by the noisy workmen
for the building is not yet finished, neither
were they held In awe by the multitud,
present, about 1900 Of busy, silent clerks
not all of the heroic order, but fair laiie,
dotted about, bending over the desks o.
the nation-and equally silent.
These notes are only o prelude: / car
give no more, though "much remains un
sung"
Save only this: The ediice is beautifully
situated in Judiciary park, among gloriou
trees, graceful walks, emerald plots, joyou
fountains, bright flowers, gay birds, ant
embraced by zephyr GOODNESS and swee
seclusion. TOLEDO.